1. A Way to Analyze Non-Fiction
SOAPSTone
A Way to Analyze Non-Fiction

2. Subject What is the essay talking about?
What topics are being addressed?

3. Occasion What is the historical context of the piece?
What seems to have inspired its writing?
Why was it written at that time and place specifically?

4. Audience What seems to be the intended audience of the piece?
List several specific traits of the intended audience.

5. Purpose
Define specifically what the THESIS of the essay is: one clear sentence.
Define exactly what the author hopes to accomplish with the piece.

6. Speaker
What specific traits can you attribute to the speaker?

7. Tone What is the speaker’s/writer’s attitude towards the subject?
List 3-4 “tone words”

8. General Directions No more than 15-20 words per letter
INFER, INFER, INFER: for each letter!
Purpose is always most important, especially defining a clear thesis.